FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR KILLORGLIN
Socio-economic plan outlines strategy for development of mid Kerry town
KERRY County Council has acquired 20 acres of land near the River Laune in Killorglin in a bid to develop a wetland park which will be a fully accessible recreational amenity for the town. This will also help to develop a coastal blueway, a water activity route, for the River Laune and Castlemaine.
The wetlands park is one of the first projects to be undertaken under the new Killorglin socio-economic plan 2018 -2021 for the town which has outlined a host of objectives to help build a “town for the ages”. The plan was officially presented to the public last week in an open evening attended by around 180 people.
A SWOT analysis of the town was undertaken which looks at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats the town is facing and with this in mind a host of strategies have been put in place. While some projects are aspirational and longterm, other projects will have improve the built environment and physical infrastructure as well as improving the tourism product, the retail environment, the ICT sector and will examine the promotion and marketing of the town.
Killorglin has also been chosen as one of four towns from across Europe, as part of the EU Smart Village project, to be part of a study to identify and define what it means to be a smart village. The findings from the study will dictate funding for projects in towns across Europe in the coming years. A delegation form Killorglin will visit Brussels in the New year to begin this project.
Among the key themes to come from public consultation for the socio-economic plan was traffic mobility and accessibility, environmental tourism and promoting the town as an active outdoors destination. These three objectives are included in the overall plan.
The SWOT analysis found that among Killorglin’s strengths is an ability to create, develop and sustain high quality export-orientated and technology-led local employment. Other strengths include an “exceptionally strong endowment” in natural, environmental and coastal resources.
Weaknesses include an inadequate and deficient transport, traffic and mobility infrastructure, peripherality, distance and access to key commercial markets for locally produced goods and a deficit of suitable, affordable residential properties for rental or purchase in the town and its environs.
The Killorglin Socio-economic report identified the development of the IRD hub by Fexco, which is currently under construction, as a locus for information and communication technology and the development of high performance start-ups (HPSU’s)
It also stated plans to develop the town of Killorglin as an outdoor adventure centre - the wetlands will form part of that.
The limitations in transport and communications are also seen as a threat to the town in the plan.